Dies anyone have any information about the Royal Hampshires /Hampshire Brigade during the 1944 Italian campaign? Lance Corporal Arthur (Art) Hayward 5498071 Lived in Bournemouth
Sue, Welcome to the forum. I can't provide you with anything too specific at the moment, but here are some web pages, of which you may be aware, but offer good reading: Sicily July - August 1943 - The Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum The Italian Campaign - Salerno Landings September 1943 - The Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum The Italian Campaign after Salerno - The Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum I shall have a look in my non-specific histories to see if I can offer more. I would also like to suggest contacting Drew5233, he may have copies of the Battalion War Diaries, for a reasonable price. Mark
Buy this book. ROYAL HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT. 1918-1954 - Naval & Military Press In WW2 they were The Hampshire Regiment. Didn't become Royal until after the war.
Sue. I am a battlefield guide for Cassino and have studied the 128 Infantry Brigade’s crossing of the Garigliano on the night of 19 Jan 44 in which 2 HAMPSHIRES had a significant part. Start a Conversation with me and I will happily send you what I have. Regards Frank
Hi Sue, I think his army number was 5498571 not 5498071. If correct he was wounded in Tunisia on 9th April 1943. During the abortive crossing of the Garigliano by 2 Hants on 19th/20th January that Frank mentions he was reported missing and later confirmed as a German PoW. Regards, Gary.
This is the entry form 2 Hants war diary for the 20th January . I'm sure Frank will fill you in on the details but only two platoons of Y Company and its company HQ managed to get across the river and were unable to return. All were killed or taken prisoner, with only one man (at the time of the War Diary being written) being able to get back to the British side of the river.
This is the report he made together with an air reconnaissance photo showing the route of Y Company over the river and his escape route back.
I have the copies of the 2 Hants war diaries. If you just require a month or two I can pass those on for free, but as I copy files for other member of the forum and elsewhere there is a same fee if you require more. I suggest trying to get copies of his service records so you know the exact dates he was with specific units; I will copy parts of files to save on cost.
Google maps today (you need to rotate the air recce photo above180 degrees counter clockwise) to almost match orientation. Sant’Ambrogio - Google Maps
Sue. So, from what Gary has unearthed, LCpl Hayward was in Y Company and captured by the Germans. Regards Frank
Dear Gary, I am interested in receiving a copy of the 2 Hants war diaries. Sadly, I don't have the specific dates so if possible I would like what you have for 1944-45. I am willing to pay for this please. In addition, I have the war diaries for RAOC 1940-1942 9 BAD - my Gt Uncle was a Sergeant based in Abu Sultan, Egypt then killed in an explosion in Port Said on 5 April 1942. I would be willing to share these with you if you're interested. Please let me know what you have and what you are willing to offer. Kindest regards Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth, If you send me a DM with the months you are looking for, we can discuss. Regards, Gary.
Hi, I’m a bit late into this conversation , however I’m doing some research on my grandad in WW2. I know that he was in the Hampshire regiment and I’ve found some brief notes. In the notes he said that he crossed the Garigliano on the 19th January and was taken prisoner on the 20th at 9 o’clock. I remember my dad saying that my granddad had said to him that the young lieutenant(?) they were with assessed the situation and surrendered rather that get into a pointless firefight. Once captured he eventually passed through Italy and was finally imprisoned in camps near Magdeburg. From the images attached to this conversation I can’t see his name, but I wondered if you’ve got an more information?
Your grandad (together with these men) was initially reported as being Worcestershire Regiment - they were all later corrected to 2 Hampshire Regiment in a later Casualty List amendment. This often happens when reinforcements from different regiments were sent from the IRTD. Regards, Gary.
Jeremy. Get hold of me through my website www.Cassinobattlefields.co.uk and I will happily share my notes of the 128 Infantry Brigade assault over the Garigliano on 19 Jan 44 with you. You will quickly realised that nothing went right for them and Sant Ambrogio stayed firmly in German hands. This was a disaster for the 36 US Inf Div attack on 20 Jan 44 because the German artillery control parties in Sant Ambrogio could see exactly what the Americans were doing. Regards Frank